(CNN) - As John McCain returned to Capitol Hill Thursday to support the passage of a package to address the nation’s financial crisis, Democrats spent the morning gleefully directing reporters to a statement from the Republican nominee Tuesday – three days after the bailout bill was introduced – that he had not read the text of the administration’s proposal.

"I have not had a chance to see it in writing. I have to examine it,” he told a Cleveland television station.

The McCain campaign said Thursday the Arizona senator had immediately been briefed on the elements of the plan – but could not say whether or not he had since read the three-page proposal, pointing instead to his meetings with congressional leaders and briefings with top officials. They also said the question was less relevant because final text was likely to be different than the original proposal.

soundoff(221 Responses)

More evidence that he's doing this as a ploy and can't handle more than one thing at a time. What a game-player!

I want HONESTY!

September 25, 2008 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

CNN-CNN

Where is obama? MCCAIN DESPARATELY LOOKING FOR ATTENTION AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE MEDIA IS GIVING IT TO HIM.

HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THIS BILL DAY AND NIGHT?????????????

September 25, 2008 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

Vince Bochicchio

Has anyone noticed Senator McCain's left eye ? Some thing is wrong

September 25, 2008 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

Transparency

Let be clear folks............John McCain real issue is not that he does not want to debate with OBAMA...............His issue is what happens next week..............THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. Seems that Old John want to re-schedule his debate with Obama next week
IN PLACE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTAL DEBATE (Which may be held and some time undetermined).

What is it with this woman...............Why is John McCain going through all this trouble to hide her and for people not to hear what she has to say.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; IT must be really Bad.

IF THIS SARAH PALIN WAS A SMART AND BRIGHT AS THE PRETEND SHE IS WHY DON'T THEY HAVE "OUT IN FRONT
SINGING LIKE A BIRD DAY AFTER DAY"

All lipstick and NO BRAINS

September 25, 2008 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

N.S of Huntsville, Al

Get lost McCain, Clitton (Bill), Treasury Paulson, Republican party, Bush ETC........ Don't give these suckers a quarter not even a damm pennie. They are lieing and let McCains wife give them money to bail them out. McCain hasn't read it, because he is a LIER. He tells lies and he wouldn't care if Jesus Christ confronted him, he would keep lieing, and lieing. I'm sick of it!

September 25, 2008 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

Wes B.

Maybe if McCain knew how to use e-mail, somebody could have sent it to him.

September 25, 2008 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

mccain is scared to debate

Mccain and his Campaign are Political Gimmicks that is the reason they want to skip the debate. When polls come out an show obama gaining ground by the day and a NYT article got Published about Mccain Crooked Campaign Manager they want to cancel the Debate. Mccain Puts Politics First not Country Hint Palin as Vp and this stunt!

September 25, 2008 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

Cheryl

Sadly, the Republicans' ploy will work, they may not have much to offer our country but they're good playing the politics game. McLame will be seen as riding into town, bringing the Republican House membership on board with the proposal and saving the U.S. economy. And the media will be there to play along.

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

deb

Anyone with any common sense realizes that McCain was just buying time on the debate issue along with trying to make it look like he's the "concerned" one wanting to help in the crisis while Obama is the "political" one concerned only with his campaign. Give me a break. Anyone who still supports McCain/Palin has to be nuts or stupid.

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

twin2jr, Chatt TN

No, pictures? No ,illustrations?
He can't use rhetoric to get himself out of this one.

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

C

McCain and Palin are running scared from debating. Mccain will get ripped by Obama tomorrow night, and Palin will be non-existant next week against Biden. It is obvious who has the better ticket for America!!! The new McCain/Palin motto: Excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses, Hail Mary!!! Can we trust these two while our troops are in harms way???

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

Democraticyear2008

How can one help solve a problem with out knowing what to solve. this guy is getting ridiclous by the day.

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

wendy spice

We all knew he did'nt need to be there but he wanted to put country first please. This man is a joke then he told his best pal bush to invite obama thinking he can distract the genius. LET'S HAVE THE DEBATE & PUT HIS TO SHAME... OBAMA 08 STRIGHT U HERE.

September 25, 2008 02:58 pm at 2:58 pm |

Dan

I wonder how many of you making fun of McCain have read the Constitution? Or do you rely on others to sum it up for you?

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Independent-Latina-for-OBAMA

Let me remind the McCain-supporters why we, the People, are so angry that we will throw EVERY REPUBLICAN OUT OF OFFICE!

AVERAGE AMERICANS SALARIES HAVE DROPPED FROM $61,500 TO $60,000 DURING THE BUSH/CHENEY/MCCAIN/GOP YEARS!

ETC., ETC., NOT TO MENTION TORTURE, LIES, CRIMINAL ACTS.

AMERICANS WILL NOT BE FOOLED AGAIN!

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

will

Georgia W. Bush is Batman the dark Bamboozle and John McCain is Superman who can fly an airplane to save his own life. Two super heroes, one who had saved the world and the American people and the other one who will save the world and the American people. If the world and the American people have been saved in the past why do we need to be saved again by the same people from the save people?

McCain = no change

Obama/Biden 2008

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Molly

McCain has done the right thing his JOB
OBama "PRESENT" -IF IF IF Needed – as ususal

McCain is the LEADER America NEEDS
Debates can be rescheduled – the time to fix our economy is NOW.

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

I said Thanks, but No Thanks to another 4 years of g.o.p. corruption, arrogance and incompetence

Patrick-Nevada: Not only has Obama read the proposal, he has been in daily contact with Sec. Paulsen, and the leadership in Congress, since last week.
Next.

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Kpawlak

Obama supporters commenting here are like a bunch of swarming piranhas.

You are all supporting a man that is the most ill equipped candidate ever. The only way you can prop your guy up is by tearing others down. Good job!

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

mitchell

i doubt he would understand it , anyway.

September 25, 2008 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Fabio

What? McCain is suspending his canpain to vote on the bailout? and he did not read the 3 page proposal?
I think it is a rsilly political stunt to dodge the real issues. We don't need a president that panics and hides when thigs get tough. He is expected to face multifacet problems and deal with them simultaneously as the leader of the free world. This is not setting priorities. It is an obvious political gamble.

September 25, 2008 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

Dennis

Has BHO read it???

September 25, 2008 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

jaye

Did they leave this in the bailout:
"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency".

September 25, 2008 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

Sam

McJoke- Can he read? can he understands? Can he comprehend? Can he relate? Can he communicate? Can he uphold?
Can he tell the truth? Can he mislead? Can he navigate on his own?
Can he understand the world in 21st century? Can he see how dumbbell palin is?
McSuspender?
Don't just leave because you have an itch in your pants.
Political Pandering & wolf in sheeps clothes.
McWolf & McMoose.
It is time to vote for OBAMA

September 25, 2008 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

karen-phoenix

Probably NOT!!! But McCain's campaign manger Rick Davis has and he also is getting checks from Fannie Mae to the tune of $15,000 a week and I do think someone should do something about this!!!! Isn't this eliigal?? But then McCain is soooo crooked all the way back to his envolment in the Keating 5 which started this whole mess in the 80's and McCain just kept deregulating all the rules that had been put in place after the 1929 crash to prevent this. McCain whole camp is a bunch of rich crooks!!! AND they care NOTHING about average American's excepting getting more money out of us!!